Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Texas, November 16 to 18, 2003

Name: Tornadoes and Flash Flooding in Texas, November 16 to 18, 2003
Start: 2003-11-16T20:05
End: 2003-11-18T00:40
Location: Texas

November 16 to 18, 2003 · NWS HGX · 35 events in 10 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 9 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 1
Injuries: 72
Property damage: $6.7 million
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 35

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS HGX wrote it up.

A total of 24 tornadoes touched down during this 15 hour period of severe weather in southeastern Texas on November 17, 2003. In addition to these tornadoes, a major flood developed over Harris and surrounding counties during the middle of this tornadic outbreak. Over 300 homes, along with hundreds of vehicles, were flooded.These tornadic storms developed over parts of Wharton and Matagorda counties shortly after sunrise with the first confirmed tornado occurring just east of El Campo around 9:00 am. Strong 500mb upper level troughing over the western U.S. moved from west to east across the Southern Plains. The polar jet stream associated with this 500 millibar trough surged into west Texas and then curved sharply northeastward into the Central Plains. The sub-tropical jet stream was oriented west to east across deep southern Texas. This jet stream pattern was the impetus to strong lower level convergence due to the enhanced upper level divergence. Low level moisture had substantially increased and was about 200 percent of normal by 6 AM. Vertical wind profiles also showed a great deal of low level wind shear with the greatest shear occurring in the lowest 2000 feet. In addition, these veering wind speeds rapidly increased with height. A focus for the thunderstorm development was provided by a weak low level boundary which was aligned southwest to northeast, or generally along the U.S. Highway 59 corridor. This feature was nearly-stationary and thunderstorms repeatedly developed and moved along this boundary. The axis of heaviest rain was coincident with this boundary.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Houston/Galveston, TX wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Nov 16, 2:30 PM CST, 5 hours 35 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Nov 16, 2:30 PM CST, 5 hours 35 minutes before

SOUTHEAST TEXAS FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
230 PM CST SUN NOV 16 2003

EXPECT ONGOING TSRA TO GRADUALLY EXIT THE CWA IN THE NEXT FEW HOURS
AS UPPER JET MOVES AWAY FROM THE AREA. SHOULD SEE A BREAK IN THE
ACTIVITY THIS EVENING WITH REDEVELOPMENT EXPECT AGAIN OVERNIGHT.

MAIN FCST CONCERN TODAY IS POTENTIAL SEVERE WEATHER AND HEAVY
RAINFALL EVENT MONDAY/MONDAY NIGHT. WV IMAGERY SHOWS STRONG 500 MB
LOW PROGRESSING EASTWARD ACROSS SRN CA/AZ. AS SYSTEM APPROACHES
TEXAS...40 KNOT LLJ WILL DEVELOP LATE TNGT/EARLY MONDAY TRANSPORTING
A NEW SURGE OF MOISTURE NWD ACROSS CWA. PWS FCST TO INCREASE TO 1.8
INCHES MONDAY PEAKING CLOSE TO 2 INCHES ALONG FRONT MONDAY NIGHT.
EXPECTING TWO ROUNDS OF CONVECTION: ONE ON MONDAY WITH
WAA/INCREASING LIFT AND MAIN ROUND MONDAY NIGHT AS COLD FRONT
CROSSES THE AREA. COULD SEE ISOLATED STRONG/SEVERE CELLS
MONDAY...HOWEVER INSTABILITY MAY BE LIMITED BY EXTENSIVE CLOUD
COVER/PRECIPITATION. THINK WILL SEE GREATER SEVERE THREAT WITH
SECOND ROUND OF STORMS WITH IMPRESSIVE DYNAMICS OVERCOMING LACK OF
INSTABILITY. CWA WILL GO INTO RRQ OF 140 KNOT UPPER LEVEL JET WITH
MID LEVEL WINDS INCREASING TO 60-70 KNOTS AFTER 00Z TUE. MODELS SHOW
LIFT MAXIMIZED ACROSS THE AREA FROM 02Z-09Z TUE. STRONG DRY PUNCH
AND UNIDIRECTIONAL WIND FIELD FAVOR DEVELOPMENT OF SQUALL LINE ALONG
FRONT WITH THREAT OF DAMAGING WINDS. ISOLATED SUPERCELLS OR
TORNADOES POSSIBLE AHEAD OF SQUALL LINE IF LOW LEVEL WINDS CAN STAY
BACKED. WILL GO LIKELY TO DEFINITE POPS ACROSS CWA MONDAY/MONDAY
NIGHT. WILL PUT SEVERE THREAT/HEAVY RAIN IN FCST STARTING MON AFTN.

RAPID DRYING WILL FOLLOW FROPA EARLY TUESDAY WITH PRECIP ENDING FROM
NORTH TO SOUTH BY 15Z. SFC HIGH SETTLES OVER THE AREA TUE AFTN
THROUGH FRIDAY WITH FANTASTIC WEATHER EXPECTED.

MODELS IN MAJOR DISAGREEMENT ON NEXT WEEKENDS SYSTEM. 00Z RUNS DID
A MAJOR FLIP-FLOP KEEPING MOST OF THE ENERGY OFF THE WEST COAST AND
SHOWING MUCH WEAKER TROF AND FROPA FOR TEXAS. 12Z GFS HAS GONE BACK
TO ITS OLDER SOLUTION WITH LONGWAVE TROF DEVELOPING OVER PLAINS AND
STRONG FROPA OCCURRING LATE SATURDAY. WILL KEEP 20 POPS IN FCST THIS
WEEKEND WITH SLIGHT COOLING SUNDAY AND LEAVE IT AT THAT.

MARINE...SCEC MAINTAINED FOR OFFSHORE WATERS TONIGHT. EXPECTING SCEC
FOR ALL WATERS MONDAY AS PRESSURE GRADIENT TIGHTENS AHEAD OF FROPA.

35/42

.HGX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
 SCEC HI ISLAND TO MATAGORDA OUT 20 TO 60 NM.

PRELIMS...
CLL TE 067/078 058/071 044 388
IAH TB 069/079 061/073 045 378
GLS TB 073/079 066/072 054 368

MONDAY RECORDS FOR GALVESTON:
HIGH MIN 73/1921
REC HIGH 80/1986

Hazardous weather outlook, Nov 16, 3:50 PM CST, 4 hours 15 minutes before

TXZ163-164-176>179-195>200-210>214-226-227-235>238-171300-

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HOUSTON/GALVESTON TX
350 PM CST SUN NOV 16 2003

...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS AND LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL POSSIBLE ACROSS
SOUTHEAST TEXAS MONDAY AND MONDAY NIGHT...

.DAY ONE...TONIGHT.
ONGOING SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WILL SLOWLY DIMINISH ACROSS THE
AREA BY EARLY EVENING. LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL IS POSSIBLE MAINLY
OVER LIBERTY...MONTGOMERY...POLK...AND SAN JACINTO COUNTIES WITH
AMOUNTS OF 1 TO 2 INCHES POSSIBLE.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY.
MONDAY AND MONDAY NIGHT...A STRONG STORM SYSTEM AND AN ASSOCIATED
COLD FRONT WILL MOVE ACROSS SOUTHEAST TEXAS. SHOWERS AND
THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP ACROSS THE AREA EARLY MORNING AND BECOME
WIDESPREAD BY AFTERNOON. A FEW OF THESE STORMS COULD BECOME SEVERE
MONDAY PRODUCING HAIL...ISOLATED TORNADOES...OR DAMAGING WINDS.

A MORE WIDESPREAD AND SIGNIFICANT SEVERE WEATHER THREAT IS EXPECTED
MONDAY NIGHT AS THE COLD FRONT MOVES ACROSS SOUTHEAST TEXAS. A
SQUALL LINE IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP WEST OF THE AREA AND MOVE ACROSS
SOUTHEAST TEXAS BETWEEN 8 PM MONDAY EVENING AND 3 AM TUESDAY
MORNING. DAMAGING WINDS WILL BE THE MAIN SEVERE WEATHER THREAT WITH
HAIL OR ISOLATED TORNADOES ALSO POSSIBLE.

LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL CAN BE EXPECTED OVER ALL OF THE AREA MONDAY
AND MONDAY NIGHT. RAINFALL AMOUNTS WILL AVERAGE 1 TO 2 INCHES WITH
ISOLATED TOTALS OF 4 TO 6 INCHES POSSIBLE. FLOODING OF
STREETS...SECONDARY ROADS...AND LOW LYING AREAS WILL BE POSSIBLE
ESPECIALLY IN AREAS THAT SAW HEAVY RAINFALL ON SUNDAY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...
SPOTTER ACTIVATION MAY BE REQUIRED MONDAY AND MONDAY NIGHT.

The radar

The Houston radar (KHGX), 52 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 14:40 UTC.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

26 tornado, 9 flash flood. Local standard time, as filed.

Flash Flood, Harris

When: November 16, 8:05 PM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where: Harris County, Aldine
Property damage: $3,000
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 29.857, -95.392 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Flooding in and around Aldine

Tornado, Wharton

When: November 17, 8:33 AM CST to 8:38 AM CST
Where: Wharton County, 8 mi SW of El Campo
Rating: F0
Path length: 0.5 mi
Path width: 25 yd
Property damage: $1,000
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 29.278, -96.222 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Storage shed destroyed with its tin debris field spread to the northeast 1/4 mile.

Tornado, Wharton

When: November 17, 8:38 AM CST to 8:43 AM CST
Where: Wharton County, 5 mi S of El Campo
Rating: F0
Path length: 1 mi
Path width: 100 yd
Injuries: 2 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage: $8,000
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 29.600, -94.700

Tornado sighted by personnel in a large plant nursery. Employees took cover and F0 tornado blew out two windows of an on-site office building. Two minor injuries.

Tornado, Matagorda

When: November 17, 9:10 AM CST to 9:15 AM CST
Where: Matagorda County, Clemville
Rating: F0
Path length: 0.5 mi
Path width: 75 yd
Property damage: $30,000
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 29.367, -95.083

Tornado touched down in town of Clemville damaging the roofs of two homes.

Tornado, Wharton

When: November 17, 9:10 AM CST to 9:17 AM CST
Where: Wharton County, 3 mi NE of Pierce
Rating: F0
Path length: 0.5 mi
Path width: 50 yd
Property damage: $2,000
Reported by: FIRE DEPT/RESCUE SQUAD
Coordinates: 29.700, -95.117

Tornado reported by Wharton County EMC as blowing automobiles off the highway.

Tornado, Wharton

When: November 17, 9:20 AM CST to 9:25 AM CST
Where: Wharton County, 2 mi S of Wharton
Rating: F0
Path length: 0.2 mi
Path width: 20 yd
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 29.717, -95.050

Tornado reported touching down near Highway 59 and Colorado River.

Tornado, Wharton

When: November 17, 10:00 AM CST to 10:08 AM CST
Where: Wharton County, 4 mi WNW of Boling
Rating: F0
Path length: 1 mi
Path width: 50 yd
Property damage: $20,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 29.633, -95.567

Tornado damaged three barns and broke several tree limbs.

Flash Flood, Fort Bend

When: November 17, 11:45 AM CST to 3:55 PM CST
Where: Fort Bend County, Kendleton
Property damage: $80,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 29.533, -95.417

Extensive flooding in and around Kendleton. Flooding extended into the towns of Needville and Mission Bend.

Tornado, Fort Bend

When: November 17, 12:05 PM CST to 12:15 PM CST
Where: Fort Bend County, Sugarland
Rating: F2
Path length: 1.5 mi
Path width: 200 yd
Injuries: 60 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage: $500,000
Reported by: BROADCAST MEDIA
Coordinates: 29.528, -95.771 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tornado touched down on west Airport Drive near Industrial in Sugar Land. 60 injuries with 7 people sent to hospital for further treatment. Damage to several office building roofs in Industrial Park. Additional damage to a Daycare facility at West Airport Drive and Dairy Ashford Road. Roof damage to several residential homes in the Meadows subdivision. Reports of several cars overturned or blown off of road along Airport Drive.

Tornado, Fort Bend

When: November 17, 12:15 PM CST to 12:20 PM CST
Where: Fort Bend County, 1 mi N of Stafford
Rating: F2
Path length: 0.5 mi
Path width: 50 yd
Property damage: $300,000
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 29.533, -95.417

Tornado touched down in the Meadows subdivision in Fort Bend County and traveled into Harris County. One home lost roof with several other homes damaged.

Tornado, Harris

When: November 17, 12:20 PM CST to 12:25 PM CST
Where: Harris County, 7 mi SSE of Alief
Rating: F2
Path length: 0.5 mi
Path width: 50 yd
Property damage: $500,000
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 29.117, -96.383

Tornado touched down in the Meadows subdivision in Fort Bend County and traveled into Harris County. Tornado moved over the intersection of West Bellfort and Kirkwood. Numerous apartments lost roofs in the extensive SW Village Apartment Complex damage.

Flash Flood, Wharton

When: November 17, 12:33 PM CST to 2:45 PM CST
Where: Wharton County, Wharton
Property damage: $15,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 29.133, -96.283

Flooding in and around the town of Wharton.

Tornado, Harris

When: November 17, 1:00 PM CST to 1:05 PM CST
Where: Harris County, (Iah)houston Intl Ar
Rating: F0
Path length: 0.2 mi
Path width: 50 yd
Reported by: OTHER FEDERAL AGENCY
Coordinates: 29.000, -96.133

Tornado spotted by an FAA employee at Bush-Intercontinental Airport.

Flash Flood, Montgomery

When: November 17, 2:00 PM CST to 4:30 PM CST
Where: Montgomery County, New Caney
Property damage: $25,000
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 29.283, -96.100

Flooding in the New Caney and Porter areas.

Flash Flood, Harris

When: November 17, 2:30 PM CST to November 18, 12:40 AM CST
Where: Harris County, Houston
Deaths: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Injuries: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage: $3.0 million
Reported by: NEWSPAPER
Coordinates: 29.267, -96.167

Extensive flooding in and around the Sharpstown area. One 17 year old female fatality with one 18 year old male injury when van they were driving became flooded outside of high school. Flooding extended into Houston metro with numerous flooded or completely submerged vehicles. 300 homes flooded.

Flash Flood, San Jacinto

When: November 17, 2:30 PM CST to 4:40 PM CST
Where: San Jacinto County, Coldspring
Property damage: $15,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 29.283, -96.017

Flooding in Coldspring.

Tornado, Brazoria

When: November 17, 2:50 PM CST to 2:59 PM CST
Where: Brazoria County, Brazoria
Rating: F0
Path length: 1 mi
Path width: 75 yd
Injuries: 1 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage: $75,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 29.168, -95.434 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tornado touch down in downtown Brazoria. Roof damage to several buildings along Highway 36 with tree damage in Old Town Brazoria. A semi-trailer was lifted and over-turned on its side at intersection of Road 332 and Highway 36.

Tornado, Harris

When: November 17, 3:01 PM CST to 3:12 PM CST
Where: Harris County, South Houston
Rating: F2
Path length: 0.7 mi
Path width: 100 yd
Property damage: $550,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 29.617, -95.633

Tornado touched down just east of Highway 288 in the Third Ward. One church completely destroyed, 50 homes damaged, and extensive tree damage. Wind damage to several downtown buildings in SE Houston near Minute Maid ballpark.

Tornado, Galveston

When: November 17, 4:25 PM CST to 4:30 PM CST
Where: Galveston County, Santa Fe
Rating: F0
Path length: 0.1 mi
Path width: 30 yd
Property damage: $100,000
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 29.298, -94.811 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tornado touched down in Santa Fe along 4th Street and FM 1764.

Tornado, Galveston

When: November 17, 4:40 PM CST to 4:45 PM CST
Where: Galveston County, Dickinson
Rating: F0
Path length: 1 mi
Path width: 30 yd
Property damage: $30,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 29.617, -95.550

Tornado damaged local car dealership's sign and rearranged a few cars in lot with tree damage along I-45.

Tornado, Chambers

When: November 17, 4:50 PM CST to 4:53 PM CST
Where: Chambers County, Beach City
Rating: F0
Path length: 0.1 mi
Path width: 25 yd
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 29.708, -94.671 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tornado touch down near Beach City.

Tornado, Harris

When: November 17, 5:20 PM CST to 5:25 PM CST
Where: Harris County, Deer Park
Rating: F0
Path length: 0.5 mi
Path width: 50 yd
Property damage: $30,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 29.533, -95.417

Tornado on Somerset Street in Deer Park with minor home damage.

Tornado, Chambers

When: November 17, 5:30 PM CST to 5:40 PM CST
Where: Chambers County, 2 mi W of Wallisville
Rating: F1
Path length: 0.5 mi
Path width: 100 yd
Injuries: 5 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage: $100,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 29.708, -94.671 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tornado crossed the Old Trinity River Bridge on I-10, blowing over 10 semi trucks. One eastbound semi was dumped onto two cars. Another westbound semi was picked up, blown across a stone retaining wall, ripped through metal fencing and landed on a car in the westbound lane. Description of trucks were one loaded with 60K pounds of nuts and bolts, another with 42K pounds of paper towels, and a tanker truck filled with spring water. 5 injured transported to local area hospital.

Tornado, Liberty

When: November 17, 5:42 PM CST to 5:48 PM CST
Where: Liberty County, 3 mi SE of Moss Bluff
Rating: F0
Path length: 0.2 mi
Path width: 20 yd
Property damage: $10,000
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 29.983, -95.350

Tornado downed some trees as it touched down along Highway 563.

Tornado, Liberty

When: November 17, 5:45 PM CST to 5:55 PM CST
Where: Liberty County, 3 mi E of Moss Bluff
Rating: F1
Path length: 0.2 mi
Path width: 20 yd
Property damage: $30,000
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 30.152, -94.812 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Tornado downed trees and severely damaged a garage.

Flash Flood, Liberty

When: November 17, 7:00 PM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where: Liberty County, Plum Grove
Property damage: $225,000
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 30.152, -94.812 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

6 to 7 homes flooded in Plum Grove with flooded roads in and around Hardin.

Tornado, Galveston

When: November 17, 8:55 PM CST to 9:00 PM CST
Where: Galveston County, Friendswood
Rating: F0
Path length: 0.7 mi
Path width: 20 yd
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 29.050, -95.583

Tornado touch down at FM 528 and FM 518. Tornado crossed Clear Creek and moved 1/4 mile into Harris County.

Tornado, Harris

When: November 17, 9:00 PM CST to 9:02 PM CST
Where: Harris County, Friendswood
Rating: F0
Path length: 0.7 mi
Path width: 20 yd
Property damage: $3,000
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 29.750, -95.050

Tornado traveled from Galveston County across Clear Creek 1/4 mile into Harris County. Tree damage in community park on east side of creek.

Tornado, Galveston

When: November 17, 9:08 PM CST to 9:15 PM CST
Where: Galveston County, Friendswood
Rating: F1
Path length: 0.2 mi
Path width: 25 yd
Property damage: $200,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 29.667, -95.233

Tornado struck a Friendswood church on FM 2351. Church's sanctuary received damage, church's bell tower completely torn off.

Tornado, Galveston

When: November 17, 9:15 PM CST to 9:18 PM CST
Where: Galveston County, Friendswood
Rating: F1
Path length: 0.2 mi
Path width: 50 yd
Property damage: $275,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 29.467, -95.050

Tornado hit a Friendswood home subdivision. Numerous homes received roof damage, garage door damage, and tree damage.

Tornado, Harris

When: November 17, 9:30 PM CST to 9:35 PM CST
Where: Harris County, 3 mi N of Baytown
Rating: F0
Path length: 0.5 mi
Path width: 50 yd
Property damage: $50,000
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC
Coordinates: 29.667, -94.900

Tornado touch down in Northern Baytown causing minor roof and tree damage near Lynchburg-Cedar Bayou Road at Barkuloo.

Flash Flood, Brazoria

When: November 17, 10:00 PM CST to November 18, 12:00 AM CST
Where: Brazoria County, Pearland
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 29.900, -94.733

Flooding across northern Brazoria County.

Flash Flood, Galveston

When: November 17, 10:05 PM CST to November 18, 12:30 AM CST
Where: Galveston County, Friendswood
Property damage: $5,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 29.933, -94.717

Flooding across northern Galveston County.

Tornado, Harris

When: November 17, 10:30 PM CST to 10:35 PM CST
Where: Harris County, Baytown
Rating: F1
Path length: 1.5 mi
Path width: 50 yd
Injuries: 3 direct, 0 indirect
Property damage: $225,000
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT
Coordinates: 29.533, -95.417

Tornado down in southeast Baytown with 54 apartment units in 4 buildings damaged and several homes receiving roof damage. A few minor injuries.

Tornado, Chambers

When: November 17, 11:35 PM CST to 11:45 PM CST
Where: Chambers County, 4 mi S of Oak Island
Rating: F1
Path length: 1 mi
Path width: 50 yd
Property damage: $300,000
Reported by: EMERGENCY MANAGER
Coordinates: 29.833, -94.767

Tornado touch down in White Harring Estates area between Oak Island and Smith Point. One home destroyed with seven other homes receiving damage.

The people who died

As the offices recorded each death: direct deaths were caused by the weather itself, indirect ones by something it set in motion.

Event	Date	Age	Sex	Where	Kind
Tornado, Liberty	2003-11-17	17	Female	Vehicle/Towed Trailer	Direct

What these are

Flash Flood: Flooding that begins within six hours of the rain that causes it, or of a dam or levee failure or ice jam release, often with deadly speed.
Tornado: A violently rotating column of air in contact with the ground and extending from a thunderstorm, filed with its path, width and Fujita or Enhanced Fujita rating from the damage survey.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Texas in 2003 Every state in 2003 This day in weather history The tornado archive for Texas, 2003 Warnings in Texas, November 2003

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5335574, 5335575, 5335576, 5335577, 5335578, 5335579, 5335580, 5335581, 5331340, 5331993, 5331341, 5331342, 5331343, 5331345, 5331344, 5331346, 5331347, 5331348, 5331990, 5331468, 5331469, 5331991, 5331892, 5331470, 5331471, 5331893, 5331894, 5331994, 5331895, 5331896, 5331897, 5331898, 5331899, 5331992, 5331900.